H_FIN_2024A 03/18/2024 12:04:35 PM Committee Summary

Richard Sweetman, representing the Office of Legislative Legal Services, provided opening remarks about the sunset review process.

Mr. Sweetman responded to questions from the committee.

Vivienne Belmont, representing the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA), provided a review of the sunset review process.

Ms. Belmont walked the committee through the sunset review of the Division of Financial Services (Attachment A).  She explained that the draft bill (Attachment B) implements all of the DORA recommendations from the sunset review report.

Representatives Kipp and Soper offered to be the co-prime sponsors of the bill.  The Office of Legislative Legal Services was given permission to make technical changes to the bill draft prior to introduction.

Representatives Bird and Brown, co-prime sponsors, presented House Bill 24-1235. The bill creates new requirements concerning adverse airport impacts for the State Aviation System Grant Program and the Division of Aeronautics, and creates a tax credit for unleaded aviation gasoline. Representative Brown explained amendments L.006 (Attachment C) and L.007 (Attachment D) and responded to questions from the committee.

Representatives Daugherty and Young, co-prime sponsors, presented House Bill 24-1231. The bill directs the State Treasurer to execute a lease-purchase agreement to fund certain capital construction projects.

Henry Sobanet, representing Colorado State University, testified in support of the bill.

Mr. Dale Pratt, representing the University of Northern Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

Mr. Mark Superka, representing the Colorado Community College System, testified in support of the bill.

Jim Carpenter, representing Metropolitan State University of Denver, testified in support of the bill.

The panel of witnesses responded to questions from the committee.

Mr. Andy Feinstein, representing University of Northern Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

Tony Frank, representing Colorado State University, testified in support of the bill.

Sandra Solin, representing Northern Colorado Legislative Alliance & the Greeley Chamber of Commerce, testified in support of the bill.

The bill sponsors made closing remarks and asked for a favorable recommendation.

Representatives Willford and Garcia, co-prime sponsors, presented House Bill 24-1297. The bill commissions a feasibility study of a baby bonds program in the state. The bill sponsors responded to questions from the committee.

The committee continued to discuss the bill with the sponsors.

Esther Turcios, representing the Colorado Fiscal Institute, testified in support of the bill.

Lauren Smith, representing Soul 2 Soul Sisters, testified in support of the bill.

Sarahy Plazola, representing the Adams County Health Department, testified in support of the bill.

Mr. David Radcliffe, representing Institute on Race, Power and Political Economy/The New School, testified in support of the bill.

Dr. Michael Neil, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.  Addititonal written testimony is included as Attachment E.

The chair announced that the bill would be laid over for action to another date.

The committee took a brief recess.

The committee returned to order.

Representatives Soper and Woodward, co-prime sponsors, presented House Bill 24-1243. The bill removes earned income of a minor from Colorado taxable income starting in tax year 2025.

The bill sponsors responded to questions from the committee.

Nicholas Aught, representing himself, testified in opposition to the bill.

Maud Naroll, representing League of Women Voters of Colorado, testified in opposition to the bill.

The witnesses responded to questions from the committee.  Additional written testimony is included as Attachment F. 

Members of the committee commented about their positions on the bill.

The committee took a brief recess.

The committee returned to order. The bill was laid over for action only at a later date.

Representative Martinez, co-prime sponsor, presented House Bill 24-1314. The bill makes modifications to the existing preservation of historical structures tax credit, including expanding the tax credit and extending it through 2036.

Representative Martinez responded to questions from the committee.

Scott Holder, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Dawn DiPrince, representing History Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

Christopher Fortney, representing the Office of Economic Development and International Trade, testified in support of the bill.

Keith Willy, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

The witnesses responded to questions from the committee.

Jennifer Orrigo Charles, representing Colorado Preservation Inc, testified in support of the bill.

John Deffenbaugh, representing Historic Denver, Inc., testified in support of the bill.

Britt Diehl, representing the Downtown Denver Partnership, testified in support of the bill.

Sam Edelson, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

The witnesses responded to questions from the committee.

Katie McKenna, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Darah Fuller, representing Tax Credit Connections, testified in support of the bill.

John Borst, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Doug Price, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Mr. Nikolaus Remus, representing Colorado Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, testified in support of the bill.

The witnesses responded to questions from the committee.

Representative Lukens provided closing remarks and asked for a favorable recommendation.

Representatives Soper and Valdez, co-prime sponsors, presented House Bill 24-1325. The bill creates two income tax credits to support the quantum industry.

Mr. Jeff Kraft, representing Office of Economic Development and International Trade, testified in support of the bill.

Massimo Ruzzene, representing the University of Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

Justin Ging, representing the Colorado Technology Association - Atom Computing, testified in support of the bill.

Dr. Eliot Kapit, representing Colorado School of Mines, testified in support of the bill.

The witnesses responded to questions from the committee.

Mr. Zachary Yerushalmi, representing Elevate Quantum, testified in support of the bill.

Mr. Corban Tillemann-Dick, representing Maybell Quantum, testified in support of the bill.

Dr. Chris Myatt, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Dr. Colleen Simpson, representing Front Range Community College, President, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Zaneta Kelsey, representing Access Mode, testified in support of the bill.

Mr. Dennis Dougherty, representing himself, testified to amend the bill.

Ms. Drea Modugno, representing the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, testified in support of the bill.

Dr. Maud Naroll, representing the League of Women Voters of Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

The witnesses responded to questions from the committee.

The witnesses continued to discuss the bill with the committee.

The bill sponsors made closing remarks and and asked for a favorable recommendation.

Greg Sobetski, representing Legislative Council Staff, was available to respond to questions about the fiscal note.

Caroline Nutter, representing the Colorado Fiscal Institute, testified in support of the bill.

Mr. Dennis Valentine, representing AARP, testified in support of the bill.

The witnesses responded to questions from the committee.

Nikki Maloney, representing the Office of Economic Development and International Trade, testified in support of the bill.

Jason Wiener, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Sandy Shoemaker, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Douglas Dell, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

The bill sponsors made closing remarks.

Representatives Hamrick and Jodeh, co-prime sponsors, presented House Bill 24-1176. The bill expands the community investment grant under the Behavioral Health Administration. The bill sponsors responded to questions from the committee.